The American Road

The
American Road

By:
Steve Finke

Nothing
compares to the thrill and adventure of the wide-open American road
and all the memories that can be made while driving it. However, with
such great pleasure comes great responsibility, and unfortunately
many people every year lose their life on the road due to either
accidents or carelessness behind the wheel.

The
best way to prevent these pre-emptive deaths on the road is to
properly educate people on how to drive defensively – protect
yourself on the road. By knowing what to do when driving in adverse
conditions or even road rage, drivers will be better equipped to
handle the various situations that come with sharing the road with
others.

When
driving, people need to be focused on the road and their surroundings
– and nothing else. First and foremost, the driver should never use
their cellphone when driving, by eliminating the cellphone, a chance
of an accident is significantly reduced. Driving while sleepy,
weaving in and out of cars, and speeding are three very deadly things
to do and all can be easily prevented. A driver should be
well-rested, and leave on time so they don’t have to worry about
being late and having to speed to try and make it to their
destination on time.

In
this day and age, essentially everybody has probably had a harrowing
experience while driving dealing with a cellphone. Thankfully, I
myself have never seen anybody in my immediate family drive
recklessly, but I know that’s not always the case. Whether it be
someone driving and looking at their cellphone, talking on the phone,
or trying to find directions, everyone has had a close call somewhere
along the line due to carelessness with a cellphone.

To
better protect yourself and others on the road, the biggest thing you
can do is be “Hands-Free” when driving – don’t use your
cellphone. By staying focused on the road you protect yourself and
remain alert, and can even protect others by honking if they start to
drift into your lane. Not speeding to get everywhere will also make
the road safer for everybody, for if you need to make an abrupt stop,
obeying the speed limit will allow you more time to stop versus
slamming on the brakes at the last minute. Be punctual, know what
time an event starts and what time you need to leave and adjust it
based on traffic and/or construction. Understand who has the
right-of-way when driving, to avoid fender-benders that could be
easily avoided following the rules of the road.

By
following these simple steps and keeping in mind the rules of the
road, one can thoroughly enjoy the experience of the American road
and all that it has to offer to us. Driving is a great activity to
enjoy, but with all things in life one must do it responsibly and
dutifully.